2016 News Releases

SC BlueCross, SC BlueChoice Members Can See a Doctor Without Going to the Doctor's Office

March 03, 2016

Columbia, SC – BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina and BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina are offering South Carolinians a convenient new option for care that complements traditional health care – Blue CareOnDemandSM.

Available 24/7 on a computer, tablet or mobile phone, Blue CareOnDemand uses video to securely connect members with a physician who will review their symptoms, ask and answer questions, make diagnoses and prescribe medications, if appropriate. The video visits are geared to handle consultations for common illnesses – such as cold and flu symptoms or pink eye — when the doctor’s office is closed or when minor acute illnesses make it difficult to leave home.

“Convenience is important to our members. Blue CareOnDemand can expedite urgently needed care when their doctor’s office or urgent care center is closed or other factors interfere with a timely on-site visit. This is part of our support for the transformation of health care to new models that work for South Carolinians,” said BlueCrossChief Medical Officer Shawn Stinson, M.D.

BlueCross and BlueChoice® made the service available Jan. 1 to under age 65 individual policy holders and to members of fully-insured groups. It will be made available as an option for self-insured groups in April. Members of employer-sponsored health plans should verify they are eligible for Blue CareOnDemand before setting up a profile and initiating a visit.

All doctors on Blue CareOnDemand are considered in-network and licensed in the state from which the member is calling. The member will be responsible for his or her normal cost share for a primary care visit and for giving his or her primary care physician the telehealth medical notes that will be emailed by the telehealth doctor.

Members can register for the service at www.BlueCareOnDemandSC.com or search for Blue CareOnDemand in the App Store or Google Play. For an example of how a visit works, videos are available at https://youtu.be/me-YxbE206s for BlueCross members and https://youtu.be/5fSjCCPupBk for BlueChoice members.

Blue CareOnDemand is provided using telehealth technology available from American Well® (www.americanwell.com), a company headquartered in Boston. American Well is an independent organization that administers telehealth on behalf of BlueCross and BlueChoice HealthPlan.

About BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

Headquartered in Columbia, and operating in South Carolina for nearly 70 years, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The only South Carolina-owned and operated health insurance carrier, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina comprises more than 20 companies involved in health insurance services, U.S. DoD health program and Medicare contracts, other insurance and employee benefits services and a philanthropic foundation that funds programs to improve health care and access to health care for South Carolinians.

About BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina

Headquartered in Columbia, BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BlueChoice HealthPlan has an “Accredited” status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its commercial business and for its Medicaid business. BlueChoice HealthPlan offers four categories of group health plans, as well as individual plans for adults and families, and a South Carolina Medicaid product.